Structurally, the novel sometimes sags: Charles tends to move into the points of view of secondary characters, which leads to some repetition. Despite Odiles and Lilys many differences, their stories reveal unexpected similarities between the chic Parisienne bookworm and the conventional, small-town teenager. The Paris Librarian Character List - BookCompanion As the war proceeds and the Nazis take over the city, she fears for her twin brother, who has been captured by the Germans, places herself in danger by transporting books to Jewish patrons who are forbidden to visit the library, and begins to question some of her boyfriend's actions. When the women meet drooling over a boardwalk storefront that none of them can afford on her own, a plan is hatched to divide the space in three, and a friendshipand business partnershipis born. Curious about Odiles past, Lily looks through Odiles personal effects and, on finding a crow letter (which Odile stole), wrongly accuses her of being an informant. Fran Hawthorne is an award-winning novelist and nonfiction author. The Paris Library. On September 3, 1783, the United States and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, formally ending the Revolutionary War. Janet Skeslien Charles is the award-winning author of Moonlight in Odessa and The Paris Library. You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Halfway through the book, I would have rated it barely 3 stars. New Paris Library: Visionary or Outdated? - The New York Times Lily helps Odile overcome her guilt and regain a sense of belonging with others. But then the Nazis invade Paris and everything changes. But the author has a clear affection for both Paris and the American Library, where she worked as a programs manager in 2010, and she integrates the stories of many of the real-life employees and patrons of the library into the story with finesse, earning the novel its own place in the pantheon of World War II fiction. ISBN-13: 9781250307187 Summary One day in the City of Light. A thoroughly enjoyable read, kind-hearted and brimming with delightful bookish allusions., Matthew Sullivan, author of Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, "Having lived in an apartment just above the current location of the American Library in Paris, I've always felt connected to the institution and wondered about its story, so I'm grateful to Janet Skeslien Charles for penning such a vivid, enjoyable, based-on-a-true-story tale. A charming, ruthless autocrat, feared yet beloved, he has three acknowledged children by three different wives (not to mention unacknowledged offspring). How do you think Odile helps her cope with that? Even beyond the wartime drama, the ALP community, many of them true historical figures, are an engrossing, colourful coterie of regulars. The American Library in Paris was able to stay open throughout the war. Tough and independent, Sallie refuses to let womanhood limit her ambitions as she earns the nickname Queen of the Kincaid Rumrunners. Check out my book club questions here. It follows Odile Souchet, who secures a position at the circulation desk of the American Library in Paris just as the war breaks out. Jeannette Walls For Lilys high school graduation, Odile gives her a plane ticket to Paris. Once Lily graduates from high school, Odile gives her a generous gift inspired by her own past. Located just two blocks from the Eiffel Tower, the private American Library in Paris has welcomed bibliophiles since 1920. Apartment building concierge. Rogers fiance. Paris. ", Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names, "Intelligent and sensuously rich.A novel tailor-made for those who cherish books and libraries.". Categories: Author Janet Skeslien Charles Shares the Story Behind The Paris Library She recovers from her fit of jealousy with Bitsi and repairs that relationship. In 1983, Lily is an awkward teenager trying to find her place in small-town Montana. And Ashley is a young, very-much-in-love bakery owner specializing in muffins who devotes herself to giving back to the community through a nonprofit that helps community members develop skills and find jobs. In 1939, Odile Souchet, the daughter of the captain of a police precinct, has just finished library school. There will be spoilers so for more context about the story, check out spoiler-free review first. Reader Q&A, Sallie wants to support her sister but sympathizes with the bootleggersher neighbors and tenantsand recognizes that the family's finances depend on trading whiskey. View my Affiliate Disclosure page here. The book in the photograph, an eighteenth-century religious text thought to have been taken from France in the waning days of the war, is one of the most fascinating cases. Surely you know where this is going, by this point? Strong and kind women, such as Professor Cohen of the Sorbonne and Library Directress Miss Reeder, are role models for Odile. Given her love of books and enchantment with the Dewey Decimal System, Odile seeks and secures a job at the American Library in Paris in the months before World War II. Her World War I veteran husband and her daughter have no knowledge of her whereabouts, and England unleashes an unprecedented manhunt to find the up-and-coming mystery author. There she meets a young woman who is the same age she was during the war and who badly needs a life coach. Susan Mallery. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbors mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them. In February of 1939, Odile interviews for her dream job at the American Library. FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | Your email address will not be published. It has been called a coming of age book, but in many regards, it is more. The Paris Library is superbly researched and has a plot twist at the end that I didn't expect. I do think there are stronger WWII historical fiction out there. Ive always been a huge fan of historical stories told from alternate lenses in this case, that of a young girl wandering the streets of Paris and working in a library. Now housed in Berlins Zentral- und Landesbibliothek library, it appears to contain some sort of code, but researchers dont know where it came fromor what the code means. Many historical fiction stories adopt the dual timeline formatwhy do you think thats a popular choice for the genre? An awkward luncheon with a would-be suitor? Profoundly influenced by her mothers disowning of beloved Aunt Carowho divorced for good reasonOdile is determined to not depend on men for financial security. I think you see a gradual change in Paul as the war dragged on. But I also saw The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles made it on there as well. WWII during the German occupation and 1980s Montana are the setting for this intelligent and rich novel of two young womens coming of age. And, because Odile isnt Jewish and has some connected friends, she sometimes partakes in black market dishes even during the war. But then the Nazis invade Paris, and everything changes. In fact, her way of coping with strong emotions is to immediately relate her feelings to a book and its Dewey Decimal number. What other books about libraries have you read and loved? Its an interesting tactic to connect the past with more of the present. Charles once worked at the American Library in Paris as a programs manager and now divides her time between Paris and Montana. The Paris Library is superbly researched and has a plot twist at the end that I didnt expect. Angry, Odile briefly cuts Lily out of her life but eventually forgives her. As different as Odile and Lily are, the two are drawn to each other by their similarities outside of a love for books and reading, their heads are full of dreams and they possess a quick wit and instinctive understanding of their surroundings, but they also tend to jeopardise friendships because of their inability to hold their tongues. Janet Skeslien Charles has penned an unforgettable novel that spans 60 years and several generations in the midst of historic turning points as dramatic as those we are living through now. FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | *If you are new here, WELCOME! Each day, they light a stinky cheroot and debate. Rmy is wounded in the early fighting and then in a prisoner-of-war camp, where he later perishes. Defining what is moral becomes complicated for Sallie. The Paris Library Chapters 1-13 Summary & Analysis So here is another instance in which the narrators of an audiobook can affect the readers experience. When the Nazis march into the city, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Odile loves her job at the Library, where she finds belonging among kindred spirits. Odile is initially angry but understands Margarets predicament. Janet Skeslien Charles was inspired to write her novel after working at the American Library in Paris and learning about the bravery of the librarians who w. An impromptu celebration on the beach at sunset with champagne becomes a weekly touchpoint to their lives as they learn more about each other and themselves. Miss Reeder, an American, vows to stay in Paris to direct the Library but must leave when Americas entry into the war becomes imminent. So that was a bit of a disappointment to me. I love to read and review various genres with a focus on contemporary fiction, historical fiction with some mysteries/thrillers and also select nonfiction and memoirs. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Your email address will not be published. In defiance of this edict, the Library workers deliver books to the homes of Jewish subscribers. If you'd like me to review your book, contact me! Did you know about the American Library in Paris prior to reading this novel? Published in 2021, Janet Skeslien Charless The Paris Library: A Novel tells the story of the American Library in Paris during the Nazi occupation. [I'm wondering about what happened to the character of Paul? Books, libraries, Paris whats not to love? It includes a letter from me, discussion questions, ideas for enhancing your book club, an author Q&A, delicious French recipes, and some of my favorite French songs. But amidst the dazzling creativity of the city's most famous citizens, four regular people are each searching for something they've lost. Charming and Unforgettable: Read an Extract of The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles, 5 Quick Questions with Janet Skeslien Charles, Author of The Paris Library, Podcast: Janet Skeslien Charles on the Unusual Woman Who Sparked Her Love of France, Your email address will not be published. Family intrigue plays out against the backdrop of 1920s Claiborne County, where racism is a given, Prohibition is the law, and bootlegging is the main source of income for Blacks and Whites. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is an interesting work of historical fiction. For those of you who arent aware, Im an avid reader of historical fiction, and as such, Ive read plenty of WWII historical novels, particularly those set in Occupied Paris. There is a love story, a mystery, the pattern of history repeating. The Paris Library Summary and Study Guide | SuperSummary After a scold at the Library informs on Professor Cohen, its Paul who arrests her. Lily has to deal not only with loss but with learning how she fits into a new family. She learned about the history of the American Library in Paris while working there as the programs manager. I hope that you will download the book club reading guide. Magazine Subscribers (How to Find Your Reader Number), Worth the Wait: New Fiction From 6 Favorites, Hang the Moon Will Be Adapted for TV Series. The Paris setting was vividly imagined and beautifully wrought, especially the library, which is depicted as a warm, happy, safe and enlightened place. Unsurprisingly, Odiles life is much more interesting than Lilys. The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel is another engaging WWII historical fiction novel. The Paris Library | Bookreporter.com Having learned the French language from Odile, Lily has become a Francophile and decides that she will head to the American Library upon her arrival. Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet seems to have the perfect life with her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. One character is a link in both, a French woman who emigrates at the wars end and spends the rest of her life in Montana. I mentioned this in my review but I thought the story was fine overall. Carrying the guilt of betraying Margaret, Odile wears Margarets parting gift, the belt, until Lilys high school graduation. His discontent was seen as he was required to direct traffic and when he was forced to clean up slurs painted on Nazi posters. I think as the war ended, seeing all that Margaret had, food, money, clothing, He just snapped. This role is especially crucial in the difficult conditions of occupied Paris, where food is increasingly scarce, and the arrest of Jewish citizens and enemy aliens is a constant threat. I also loved all of the mentions of Zora Neale Hurstons Their Eyes Were Watching God in the novel, a personal favorite of mine! What do you like best about reading WWII historical fiction? (See my struggle to find a recipe for The Nightingale here). 823. GENERAL FICTION, by Her shorter work has appeared in revues such as Slice and Montana Noir. The Paris Library is a historical fiction novel based on the true WWII story of the librarians at the American Library in Paris. He felt guilty about what he'd done and took it out on Margaret. She lands her dream job assisting patrons of the American Library, which serves both foreigners and Parisians, and falls in love with one of the police officers her father brings home for dinner. I can see where the groundwork was laid for it but I still thought it was an odd story choice. A Season in Hell by Rimbaud. Agatha Christie novels have withstood the test of time, due in no small part to Christies masterful storytelling and clever mind that may never be matched, but Agatha Christies untold history offers perhaps her greatest mystery of all. Im always curious about what makes the New York Times bestsellers list. Bree is a friendly but standoffish bookstore owner who keeps everyone she knows at arms length, from guys she meets in bars to her friends. Each day, they light a stinky cheroot and debate. When Odile goes to his office to appeal for help finding Professor Cohen, she sees these crow letters, named for the black-hearted people who inform on their neighbors. Margaret, an English woman in a loveless marriage, finds a home at the Library and begins a friendship with Odile. Meticulously researched,The Paris Libraryis an irresistible, compelling read., Fiona Davis, national bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls, The Paris Libraryis a refreshing novel that celebrates libraries as cradles of community, especially when we need them the most. Books connect a middle-aged ex-librarian and a schoolgirl, both of whomlong for similar things (Photo: Atria Books). I get what the author was trying to convey but I didnt think it was executed in the best way. Paul and the other three policemen were collaborators themselves, having done the Nazis' dirty work, no matter how much they disliked it, and then having enjoyed the spoils of the belongings of the Jews they arrested. [Paul is interesting. The novel is a dual timeline story and the second timeline follows Lily, a young girl in 1980s Montana who is now the neighbor of Odile Souchet. She loves to read, has memorised the Dewey Decimal system for cataloguing library books, and has developed a clever way of coping with strong emotions, which is to immediately relate her feelings to a book and its number. 2018 The Edge Communications Sdn. Odile personally delivers books to Professor Cohen. For more on this award-winning author, visit https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Janet-Skeslien-Charles/164282829. Janet Skeslien Charles Her father refuses to help the Professor. The friendship between the two has grown so strong that Odile wants Margaret to be her matron of honor when she marries Paul, who has proposed to her. Looming war with Germany? As I mentioned in the intro, recipes for books about World War II are often a challenge since most countries faced rations, if not starvation. Nonfiction books describing Late Stage/End Stage capitalism. In this one, the Montana storyline focuses more on the teenager Lily and I wasnt as engaged with her arc. Still, though, I did enjoy learning about the real-life American Library in Paris and the push to keep reading alive during the horrors of war. HISTORICAL FICTION | Movie star in the 40's. Bouquiniste - booksellers along the Seine River in Paris. Based on the true Second World War story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris who risked their lives during the Nazis war on words, The Paris Library by award-winning novelist Janet Skeslien Charles is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and of heroism found in the quietest of places.
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